Evgeny Kuznetsov was sensational last season, becoming the first player not named Alex Ovechkin or Nicklas Backstrom to lead the Capitals in points in over a decade. But something seemed wrong at the start of the 2016-17 campaign.

The news comes from the NHL’s Pavel Lysenkov after the reporter interviewed Sergei Gimaev – a former player/coach and one of the best hockey pundits in Russia (MatchTV) – on Monday.

“As for the forwards, I am very happy for Evgeny Kuznetsov,” Gimaev said as translated by Igor Kleyner. “He is picking up points, playing well. But the readers need to understand the circumstances, which they weren’t aware of. I know, because I follow Washington very closely, and personally visit the capital as well.”

“So, in the beginning of the season, Kuznetsov had a very serious leg injury,” Gimaev revealed. “More specifically, it was his ankle. You should have seen just how he was putting his skates on – with a great deal of pain! He was playing through it, but remained in the lineup. And now he is healthy, and our bird Kuznetsov is flying again. He skates like an eagle gliding in the sky!”